Order of Service – Sunday 27 November 2022 – St. ANDREW’S DAY – ADVENT 1 – HOPE
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CALL TO WORSHIP
Let us go to the house of our God,
So that Christ may teach us the way and we may walk holy paths!
Together, we will proclaim the peace of our God,
Praying for peace and security for all.
For the sake of all whom we love,
we listen for hope, seeking God’s peace.
For the sake of the God we adore,
we will spread hope, by proclaiming God’s goodness.
LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT CANDLE (Candle of Hope)
Anew we tell the ancient tale, coming to the story circle of lights.
This first flickering is to banish darkness.
This is the candle of Hope.
Let us honour the Light! (Pause)
HYMN: 152 “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore You”
A PRAYER FOR ST. ANDREW’S DAY
Written especially for St. Andrew’s Day, by the Glasgow Churches Together. (adapted)
God, our loving Creator, St. Andrew introduced Peter, the Greek visitors,
and the little boy with loaves and fishes, to Jesus.
May we be like Andrew in sharing friendship and hospitality, and in faithfulness to Jesus and His realm of justice, love and peace.
May Scotland and all nations be places in which everyone matters, everyone has an honoured place, and the dignity of each is assured by our faith in You as creator of us all.
LITANY FOR ADVENT
In joyful expectation let us pray to our Saviour and Redeemer, saying:
Lord Jesus, come!
O wisdom, from the mouth of the Most High, You reign over all things to the ends of the earth, and arrange them by the power of Your love:
Come and teach us how to live.
Lord Jesus, come soon!
O Lord, and head of the house of Israel, You appeared to Moses in the fire of the burning bush, and You gave the Law on Sinai;
Come with outstretched arm and ransom us.
Lord Jesus, come soon!
O Branch of Jesse, standing as a sign among nations, all kings will keep silence before You, and all peoples will summon You to their aid:
Lord Jesus, come soon!
O Key of David and sceptre of the House of Israel, You open and none can shut, You shut and none can open:
Come and free the captives from prison.
Lord Jesus, come soon!
O Morning Star, splendour of the light eternal and bright Sun of righteousness:
Come and enlighten all who dwell in darkness and in the shadow of death.
Lord Jesus, come soon!
O King of nations, You alone can fulfill their desires:
Cornerstone, You make opposing nations one:
come and save the creature You fashioned from clay,
Lord Jesus, come soon!
O Emmanuel, hope of the nations and their Saviour:
Come and save us, Lord our God.
Lord Jesus, come soon!
HYMN: 271 “The Advent of Our God”
CHOIR: “Across the Lands” & “King of Ages” by Stuart Townend and Keith Getty
A REFLECTION: St. Andrew (on Video) Very Rev. Dr. John Davies
BIBLE READING Brian Cartwright
Psalm 33:12-22 (Page 550) Romans 15:5-13 (Page 1125)
SERMON: “Jesus is Our Hope” Krikor Youmshajekian
HYMN: 272 “Come, thou Long-Expected Jesus”
NOTICES
- Lane Cove Music – Tuesday 29 Nov 7:30 pm at Lane Cove.
- Movie/Pizza Night – Tuesday, 6 December 6:30 pm.
- Carols Service – Sunday 11 December 9:30 am.
- Food & Gifts for Exodus – All in by 18 December.
- Christmas Eve Service on the Lawn if weather permits – Saturday 24 December 7:00 pm.
- Christmas Day Service: Sunday25 December 9:30 am.
OFFERING and DEDICATION
Money, time and other resources are unevenly distributed around the world.
We acknowledge appreciating the abundance of blessings of this land and people.
We offer ourselves, individually & collectively to bless the world of Your Creation.
Where there is greatest scarcity and need, may these gifts make a difference.
May this sharing bring hope. Amen!
Soo-Tee and Mary Cheong have decided to join our congregation as members. We welcome them with open arms and Christ’s love.
PRAYER OF INTERCESSION – SHARE HOPE
Seed in Your world and in us Your vision for shalom and refuge with You.
Heal those who are weary of body, mind and soul. Heal the loss of identity that accompanies homelessness and statelessness.
Anticipate heaven in the hearts of warmongers and peacemakers, restoring innocence and blessing them with the capacity to love their enemies.
Reconcile relationships between peoples and Your created order.
Enter into the world with prophetic expectation, so that those who are lost to themselves and others, might find their way into Your light.
May Hostilities cease in places of conflict and war and in homes where safety has been unknown.
May Othering of the vulnerable be replaced by the yearning for respect and dignity for all.
May Prayers continue to stir daily in our hearts, echoing the prayers we pray and are prompted to pray today.
May Each of the stories we share in faith today call forth fruitful blessing in our lives and in the world.
HYMN: 216 “Rejoice the Lord is King” (Tune 108/371 Darwall)
SENDING OUT AND BENEDICTION
What time is it?
It is time to wake up!
What shall we lay aside? What shall we pick up?
We lay aside the darkness, so we can clothe ourselves in light!
So, Go – be beacons of HOPE in the world.
Go with the blessing of the One who sang light into being,
the One who was called the Light of the World,
the One who breathes fire into your soul. Amen!
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To contact Krikor call 0418 417 411
Church Website: http://www.longueville.unitingchurch.org.au
Church email: standrewsunite@tpg.com.au
Church Office phone: 9427 4740